Featuring Stefan Babcock on vocals and guitar, Steve Sladkowski on guitar and vocals, Nestor Chumak on bass and vocals, and Zack Mykula on drums and vocals, all longtime friends who met in elementary school, PUP formed in 2010 under the name Topanga. The original name was a reference to Topanga Lawrence, a character played by Danielle Fishel on the '90s sitcom Boy Meets World, but when the members learned Fishel would be reviving the character in 2014 in a spin-off titled Girl Meets World, they chose to change the name to PUP, standing for "Pathetic Use of Potential." Topanga released a digital EP titled Oceans, and positive press and attention from other bands helped create a buzz about the group. In 2013, they became PUP, releasing their self-titled debut album through the Royal Mountain label. The album was a hit with both critics and fans, with the group being named Best Live Show and Best New Artist by CBC Radio 3. The band toured extensively, playing throughout Canada and making their way to England and the United States. By the end of 2013, PUP had signed a record deal with the well-established punk label Side One Dummy, and spent much of 2014 and 2015 touring in support of Side One Dummy's reissue of their debut LP, launching their first headlining tours of the United States and Canada, as well as making their Australian debut.
In February 2016, PUP teased a new single called "DVP" in advance of their second full-length album, The Dream Is Over. Released in May of that year, the album's title is a reference to a prognosis Babcock received from his doctor: he'd severely damaged his vocal cords after enduring years of non-stop touring. In true punk fashion, PUP used the doctor's glib comment as the rallying cry for another set of hard-hitting, self-deprecating punk tunes. The band promoted the effort with an international tour over the next year before returning to the studio to write and record a follow-up. They spent most of 2018 working on the album, which saw release in April 2019. Titled Morbid Stuff, the record was produced with Dave Schiffman (the Mars Volta, Weezer) and lyrically focused on Babcock's struggles with depression. A year later, PUP offered up their commentary on the state of the world with This Place Sucks Ass, a six-song EP whose title referenced one of their long-standing touring inside jokes. With COVID-19 putting a halt to live performances, the group returned to the studio in 2021 to record their fourth album. Produced by Peter Katis (the National, Frightened Rabbit), 2022's wild The Unraveling of Puptheband saw the group augmenting their normally guitar-based sound with synthesizers, piano, and horns.
Biography by Mark Deming
There is another artist using the same name:
2) PUP is a Chinese-Korean rapper.
Reservoir
PUP Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You walk forever just to meet me at the reservoir
Outta luck, outta money
Take yer clothes off, meet me at the reservoir
Meet me at the reservoir [x2]
I guess you live and you learn
You’re on your own
I’m letting go at the reservoir
You’re sinking like a stone
We had it all and it fell apart
You only want it when you’re bored with the quarry
I only want it when I’m wasted at the reservoir
Outta touch, outta loving
The engines running and I’m wasted at the reservoir
My lungs are killing me, I didn’t even get high
Forget longevity, we’re just tryna get by
It isn’t apathy, I just don’t care if I die
My lungs are killing me, I didn’t even get high
You’re on your own
I’m letting go at the reservoir
You’re sinking like a stone
We had it all and it fell apart
What did you expect?
At the reservoir, you’re sinking like a stone
And I’m letting go
It’s never pleasure, it’s always work
Meet me at the reservoir [x2]
I guess you live and you learn
I guess you’ll get what you deserve
You’re on your own
I’m letting go at the reservoir
You’re sinking like a stone
We had it all and it fell apart
What did you expect?
At the reservoir, you’re sinking like a stone
I’m letting go
I will stay afloat
The lyrics to PUP's song "Reservoir" can be interpreted in various ways, but the overarching theme seems to be about a dysfunctional relationship that has fallen apart. The song starts with the singer asking the other person to meet them at the reservoir, and it is clear that they had to climb a mountain to get there. This could symbolize that the relationship was hard work and required effort to maintain. The line "outta luck, outta money" suggests that perhaps they were struggling financially too, which could have put pressure on the relationship. However, the line "take yer clothes off" immediately follows, which could imply that physical intimacy was used as a way to escape their problems temporarily.
The further we get into the song, the more we realize that this relationship is toxic. The singer says "you only want it when you're bored with the quarry," suggesting that the other person only craves their attention when they're not getting it elsewhere. The line "my lungs are killing me, I didn't even get high" could be interpreted literally or figuratively. It could mean that they're engaging in harmful activities like smoking, or it could be a metaphor for the relationship draining them.
The chorus repeats twice in the song, and it's a reminder that the two people are not on the same page. The singer is "letting go at the reservoir" while the other person is "sinking like a stone." They "had it all and it fell apart," which could lead one to believe that there was potential for a healthy relationship at one point, but that it didn't work out. The line "it's never pleasure, it's always work" reinforces that idea.
In summary, "Reservoir" seems to be a cautionary tale about being in a relationship that drains you. The imagery suggests that maintaining the relationship is exhausting and feels like hard work. The physical activities, like climbing a mountain and swimming in a reservoir, are not enjoyable, but instead are used as a way to escape the problems in the relationship temporarily. Ultimately, the two people are on different paths and cannot sustain a healthy relationship.
Line by Line Meaning
Took a path to the top of the mountain
I made a difficult journey to get to where I am now.
You walk forever just to meet me at the reservoir
You went through a lot of effort just to see me here at the reservoir.
Outta luck, outta money
I'm unfortunate and broke.
Take yer clothes off, meet me at the reservoir
Take off your clothes and come meet me at the reservoir.
Meet me at the reservoir [x2]
I really want you to join me at the reservoir.
I guess you live and you learn
I think people gain wisdom through experience.
I guess you’ll get what you deserve
You'll receive what you have coming to you.
You’re on your own
You're alone and don't have my help.
I’m letting go at the reservoir
I'm giving up and distancing myself from you at the reservoir.
You’re sinking like a stone
You're failing and falling fast.
We had it all and it fell apart
We had everything, but it fell to pieces.
You only want it when you’re bored with the quarry
You're only interested in this when you're tired of what you already have.
I only want it when I’m wasted at the reservoir
I'm only interested in this when I'm drinking at the reservoir.
Outta touch, outta loving
I'm disconnected and lacking love.
The engines running and I’m wasted at the reservoir
The vehicle is working and I'm drunk at the reservoir.
My lungs are killing me, I didn’t even get high
I'm having trouble breathing and I didn't even feel the effects of the drugs.
Forget longevity, we’re just tryna get by
We're not focused on a long life, just getting through each day.
It isn’t apathy, I just don’t care if I die
It's not that I don't care, I just don't fear death.
What did you expect?
What outcome did you anticipate?
At the reservoir, you’re sinking like a stone
Here at the reservoir, you're losing quickly.
And I’m letting go
I'm releasing my hold on you.
It’s never pleasure, it’s always work
This is never about enjoyment, it's always a chore.
I will stay afloat
I'll keep myself above water.
Contributed by Isaiah A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@baconsensation4044
Took a path to the top of the mountain
You walk forever just to meet me at the reservoir
Outta luck, outta money
Take your clothes off, meet me at the reservoir
Meet me at the reservoir!
Meet me at the reservoir!
I guess you live and you learn
I guess you'll get what you deserve
You're on your own
I’m letting go at the reservoir
You're sinking like a stone
We had it all and it fell apart
You only want it when you're bored with the quarry
I only want it when I'm wasted at the reservoir
Outta touch, outta loving
The engines running and I'm wasted at the reservoir
My lungs are killing me, I didn't even get high
Forget longevity, we're just trying to get by
It isn't apathy, I just don't care if I die
My lungs are killing me, I didn't even get high
You’re on your own
I’m letting go at the reservoir
You're sinking like a stone
We had it all and it fell apart
What did you expect?
At the reservoir
You're sinking like a stone
I’m letting go!
It’s never pleasure, it’s always work
Meet me at the reservoir!
Meet me at the reservoir!
I guess you lived and you learned
I guess you’ll get what you deserve!
You’re on your own
I’m letting go at the reservoir
You’re sinking like a stone
We had it all and it fell apart
What did you expect?
At the reservoir
You’re sinking like a stone
I’m letting go, I will stay afloat!
@FloggingMicah
This band is so ridiculously good. This record is perfect.
@sampiper9043
I discovered this record last month and it's unreal
@chicagolikethecity
This will forever be one of my favorite music videos.
@kittygoesWOOF
liking only bc you chose Chicago for your SN
@epic886
This music video encapsulates the band so well its insane, immediately from the start shit starts to hit the fan, and it just gets more and more chaotic and loud, and they still keep on going, even while everything is breaking down.
@jendeath9051
I heard this song on the radio last night and was shocked at how good it was. Then I got sad because of all the good music out there that I have yet to hear...
@tarttooth6022
+Jeanette Lopez It should make you happy there is so much good music to discover! Listen to the Flatliners if you haven't already. My favorite song from them is Run Like Hell.
@jendeath9051
+TartTooth It's a little of both I guess. :) I've listened to Flatliners a little. I really loved the song This Respirator!
@probablylondon5335
Jeanette Lopez now I'm sad
@riverkoritko4411
just saw these guys today. if you think the pics and videos make the shows look crazy it is 100× anythin you could ever imagine. incredible live, incredible crowd, incredible songs, incredible writing, i just live everything about this band and the concert jyst made everything i loved about them amplified to an unpredictable level